Bail bonds
If you have been arrested for a severe crime, you need to stay in prison while awaiting the bail hearing. During the bail hearing, the court will determine the amount of bail that will give you temporary freedom. If you or your family can quickly raise the money, then everything is fine. However, if you don't have any funds available, you will be forced to remain in jail while awaiting your court hearing -- a scary prospect to contemplate. Luckily, there is a solution: You or a friend can seek assistance from a bondsman who can put up your bail to the court, get you released from prison.
But how can you contact a bail bond agent ? That's where our site can assist you: We can help you find a trustworthy and reliable bonding company in Santa Cruz County who can post the required bail to make it possible for you to get released from jail.
Use a bail bond to gain temporary freedom after getting arrested
The judicial system permits a bail bondsman to post a bail bond, also called surety bond, to help people arrested and charged with a criminal offense gain temporary freedom while waiting for their court hearing.
The legal system allows two kinds of bail -- a criminal bail bond as well as a civil bail bond.
To make it clear, a judge does not impose a criminal bail bond to penalize you for your alleged criminal offense. You are still presumed innocent up until proven guilty. However, the judge needs an assurance that you will show up in court to face your accuser; hence, the requirement to post bail. If you participate in all your arranged criminal procedures as required, and you are in the end found not guilty, the bail will be repaid to you. In case you are found guilty, the bail amount will be used to take care of the penalties and fines that the judge might impose on you. If you skip the court hearings, your bail will be lost and you will be subject to getting arrested.
On the contrary, the civil bail bonds imposed on civil cases function as an assurance or a surety with the court where the debts, interests, and fees enforced on the accused can be taken from.
Why should I care about a bail bond?
Except if you want to remain in prison, you will have to make bail. However, very few people are able to afford it, which is why a bonding company is vital to anyone that wishes to wait for their trial outside of prison.
The exact amount of bail {will vary|depends on a lot of different factors. For instance, two individuals who committed the same criminal offense can have very different bail amounts. This can happen because the court will look into your financial circumstances, previous arrests, your roots in the area, and if you are a flight risk.
In nearly all states, the rate charged by the bondsman is typically 10-20% of the overall bail, and this is non-refundable.
Also, the bonding company can assist you maneuver around the complicated judicial proceedings. It's easier to hire a bondsman then to deal with the court on your own.
How the bail bonds process works
Don't forget: When you get arrested and booked for an alleged crime, immediately request for an attorney to represent you and protect your rights. In addition, contact a trusted person to connect you with a bonding company to initiate the bail process. When this contact is made, the bondsman will want answers to general questions like the suspect's name, date of birth, and the location or city of the arrest. The bondsman will then offer to pay the bail money for you in return for a reasonable service fee. As soon as the agreement is made, the bail bondsman will go ahead with the necessary actions to secure your release from prison. In a matter of hours, after the action taken by your bondsman, you can walk out of jail, free once again.
Information your bondsman needs to have
If you get in touch with a bonding company, you need to share these details:
- Your full name if you are the defendant
- The name and location of the prison where the accused is detained
- The booking number in the police blotter
- The complaints filed against the defendant
- Any other relevant info
What does a bonding company accept as collateral?
Not everybody will have the cash lying around to pay a bail bondsman, however that does not mean you can not utilize one to get yourself or someone else out of jail. If you don't have enough cash, you can also put up some of your assets as collateral. Some items generally accepted as collateral include:
- Real estate
- Cars and trucks
- Visa or mastercard
- Stocks
- Bonds
- Jewelry
- Personal credit
- Bank accounts
In addition, most bail agents will also provide you with the option for a payment plan that is within your budget and does not add more stress throughout these difficult times.
The bail bonds procedure can be complicated and just as wearisome, but the good news is that many bail bondsmen are ready to support you 24×7. Using our site you can find a credible bail bondsman in Santa Cruz County. They will be more than delighted to help you secure you or your loved one from prison!
